Riotous Ramblings of the Right

By BJ

Say what you will about the wingnuts, they always provide entertaining diversions. Via memeorandum, I see this story by Fouad Ajami claiming Obama's interview with Al-Arabia, "Reassures Despots".

"To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect," President Barack Obama said in his inaugural. But in truth, the new way forward is a return to realpolitik and business as usual in America's encounter with that Greater Middle East. As the president told Al-Arabiya television Monday, he wants a return to "the same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago."

Say what you will about the style -- and practice -- of the Bush years, the autocracies were on notice for the first five or six years of George. W. Bush's presidency.

Yep. We sure do remember just how worried those autocrats were during Bush's reign. I mean, look at the terror in the eyes of the ruler of Saudi Arabia when he met with Bush some years ago.

"Abdullah and his small entourage were nearly a half-hour late, but Bush gave Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler a warm embrace and a kiss on both cheeks in welcome. Bush kept a firm, guiding grip on his guest’s hand as they walked up the path, past a field of bluebonnets that the president took care to point out, to a new office building on a corner of the sprawling ranch."

Because nothing tells an autocrat he's on notice more than kisses on the cheek, holding hands, and strolling through bluebonnets. Abdullah must have been ready to soil himself.

And the stupid doesn't end there, as news that Russia is willing to suspend deployment of nuclear missiles near Poland to counteract the expected US deployment of missile shield components in that country, a boondoggle that Obama seems correctly to be in no hurry to waste money on. Very good news really, even if all it amounts to is both sides sitting on their hands and waiting.

Of course, in wingnut logic, not going forward with a provocative missile shield deployment that would trigger a new arms race and bring the world far closer to the brink of nuclear armageddon, and getting the Russians to back off of their own provocative moves as a result, is read somewhat differently.

Obama Surrenders to Russia

So the Russians backing down from their missile deployments is Obama surrendering? If that's the case, the US needs to lose a lot more battles this way.

Comments

[Steve Hynd]

The funniest thing about all this follery over Obama's interview is that Al-Arabia is the house media organ of Saudi, a long-term US client state.

Regards, C